DJG Email List

DJG is DONE

2011-03-08T14:43:04Z

DJG is DONE

I gave the graphic design business a good ten years and it's now time to really do my own thing. Thank you so much for the interest and support over the past decade, but I must reinvent myself artistically. This means I am no longer taking client design work in order to put forth all resources into personal art projects as a visual artist.

I've been headed in this direction since day one, so it's nothing new and I'm excited about it. Many new things have already been made and I will show and tell at a later date. I am very proud of what I have accomplished with design and will continue to honor my little pile of previous work with article, exhibition and publishing.

Please go to my new online home for more information and factors regarding this decision and to keep up with the continued artistic transformation going on with me. I will never stop adventuring with art and I hope you continue to travel with me. Thanks for allowing me to share with you. My new email is: dannyjoegibson@gmail.com

-Danny Joe Gibson / March 2011

Books

TrademarksUSA / 2011

Sound & Design / 2011

The Typed Image / 2011

Typography Design / 2011

The Stained Glass Kaleidoscope / TBA

Articles

Pitch / 2011

Present Magazine / 2011

Exhibition

Fade In: Collection of Animation / Austin, TX / Jan-Mar 2011

Untitled Poster Exhibition / Kansas City, MO / TBA

DJG is Ten: Retrospective / Kansas City, MO / TBA

DJG / 8th Annual Art Exhibit at The Brick

2010-11-18T11:45:22Z

DJG Ate Eight: An Art Show
All Month of December 2010 at The Brick
1727 McGee St. in Kansas City, MO USA

Official Opening: Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 6pm.
Prints and original art will be for sale on opening night only.

Starting around 7pm will be music by Kansas City area talent:
Konnor Ervin (of The ACB’s)
Bryan Lamanno (of The Tambourine Club)
Thom Hoskins
Micah Buzan

Music Video Premiere

2010-03-10T10:37:42Z

David Seume "Will Ya Be My Friend" Music Video Premiere

DJG and PJC of Mur Mur Man Productions (KCMO & NYNY) spent the last fourteen months constructing their first music video production. The video is for Kansas City, MO singer-songwriter extraordinaire David Seume, who let the artists pick a song that spoke and sparked from his brilliant debut album, “It Is What It Is”.

Seven months after picking out the song and making and mapping, DJG passed off a stack of art to PJC who added another seven months of additional flavors, ultimately putting the gas in the tank that made it GO. The final product is “Will Ya Be My Friend”, a delightful journey set to Seume’s starting call of locusts humming and ending with a child’s voice. In the middle is a beautiful, positive, melodic romp inspiring relationships and adventure along the way.

“Will Ya Be My Friend” premieres Friday, March 12, 2010 at The Brick in Kansas City, MO at 10pm. It’s advertised to start at 9pm on some promotions, but go ahead and get there early if you like, to soak in The Brick as well as the video production art hanging on the wall for one night only. Seume will also provide a full set of music with friends Thom Hoskins and Joel Kanne rounding out the bill. The Brick is located at 1727 McGee St. near downtown Kansas City, MO USA.

For those who can’t make it out to the premiere, “Will Ya Be My Friend” will go live to the internet shortly after, so stay tuned to djgdesign.com. For now you can check out a teaser trailer that is already generating some buzz!

“Judging from this teaser, this video may be one of the coolest things you’ll see all year.”
- Present Magazine

“It’s gorgeous”
- The Pitch

-djg

(Special Thanks to Seume, PJC and Sheri!)

DJG Design / Exhibitions

2009-12-04T11:42:16Z

Hello friendly readers...

It's that time in the year again where many months of DJG work add up to minutes of notice for some of you to possibly see it in person and apart from the halls of internet galleries! For those in the Kansas City, MO USA area in December, DJG is involved with four exhibitions this month (and one in early 2010)! Please click on the exhibition titles below to find out more information about each one! As always, thanks for your continued interest and support!

-djg

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2009

"Big Long Strides at the Crosswalk to Heaven, DJG at The Brick Number Seven"

DJG's 7th Annual December Solo Exhibition at The Brick in Kansas City, MO USA. Exhibition Opening: Saturday, December 5, 2009 / 5pm-9pm. Original framed art on the wall will not be for sale but DJG will have items for sale the opening night. Solo musical performances by: Bryan Lamanno (The Tambourine Club), Konnor Ervin (The ACB's), David Seume and Thom Hoskins.

"DJG Shows Self-Portraits at The Bulldog"

In October DJG made 25 self-portraits and decided to make them an on-going series. The images were first adapted as mini concert advertisements for a concert featuring Deastro at Czar Bar in Kansas City, MO USA. All month of December 2009, DJG is exhibiting and selling the original images (plus another new self-portrait that is the exhibition poster!) at a restaurant and bar called The Bulldog in Kansas City, MO USA.

"Jacob's Well Silent Art Auction"

DJG has been making a lot of sheep out of yard clippings called "Sheep, Sheep, Sheep, Sheets (aka: Lamb of God)". One of these ("Sheep Sheets" No. 20) will be up for auction at Jacob's Well Church in Kansas City, MO USA for one night only on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 7pm!

"I Think We Are Making Progress"

There is a great gallery space in Lawrence, KS USA called Wonder Fair. DJG was invited to share and sell some art in a group exhibition that has been going on there the past few weeks. Sadly, the exhibition is closing on Sunday, December 6, 2009, but if you're in the area please check it out. Also, some of DJG's work might get a continued residence at Wonder Fair, more to come on that!

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2010

"Mid America Manifesto"

1819 Central Gallery may be new to Kansas City, MO USA, but they are getting some great exhibitions. To start off 2010, they have assembled a 5 state music poster and printmaker showcase and invited DJG to not only exhibit posters but also to help create the exhibition poster! The exhibition "Mid America Manifesto" opens January 1, 2010 and runs through March 4, 2010.

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Exhibitions still in the early stages...

Aug. 2010: Missouri State Fair Photography Group Exhibition / Sedalia, MO USA

Dec. 2010: Untitled 8th Annual DJG Solo Exhibition at The Brick / Kansas City, MO USA

TBA: Untitled DJG Solo Exhibition at JoCo Central Resource Library / Overland Park, KS USA

TBA: Untitled DJG Co-Exhibition with Neversleeping.com / Kansas City, MO USA or Columbia, MO USA

2011 or 2012: Untitled massive solo exhibition representing 10 years of DJG in KCMOUSA. If anyone is interested in the orchestration of housing a large collection of work, and for more than a month, please let DJG know!

Elsewhere: DJG is interested in exhibiting work here, there and everywhere so please contact and connect and let's make lots of things happen!

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Enjoy the end of this newsletter and 2009!

Thanks so much for a great year!

-djg

DJG Design / September-August-July 2009

2009-10-01T09:41:10Z

Greetings all.

Here we sit in Autumn's Bottom, at least from the perspective of the American Midwest in my man cave. What a lovely time of year as it quickly unravels to the next. In attempt to slim the typical mass newsletters, below is a list of notable news headlines from the desk of DJG served over the past three months. Please click on each one to head on over and receive the rest of the story. As always, thank you for allowing me some show and tell time. -djg

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September 2009

T-Shirts for The ACB's

Sheep, Sheep, Sheep, Sheets

Trip Notes

CATS / DJG

"Don't Dally Do & Due: DJG at the Library"

August 2009

"Creative Grab Bag"

Award Winning Photography at Missouri State Fair

Things Elsewhere

DJG Audio-Visual Club Items Piling Up

Who Tweeted?

"Dew Do Due...: DJG at the Library"

July 2009

Getting Ffffound!

Poster on Type Inspire

Review on Art KC 365

NPR Talks to DJG

Publishing Projects

"Get Tuit, Just Due It...: DJG at the Library"

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Forthcoming DJG

Nov. 2009: Things officially for sale at DJG Design.com

Dec. 2009: "Big Long Strides at the Crosswalk to Heaven, DJG at The Brick Number Seven" / 7th Annual Solo Exhibition at The Brick in Kansas City, MO (reception, musical showcase and art sale T.B.A)

Late 2009: Remodeling of DJG Design.com

Late 2009: "Will Ya Be My Friend" / Music video premiere for singer-songwriter David Seume in conjunction with Ursuline Design and Mur Mur Man Productions.

Late 2009: Various DJG publishing projects start to walk

Jan-Feb 2010: "Mid America Manifesto" / Five-state poster artist & printer exhibition at 1819 Central Gallery in Kansas City, MO

2010: “The Typed Image” / Book by: Barbara Brownie – Faculty for the Creative Industries, University of Hertfordshire

2011 or 2012: Projected massive solo exhibition representing 10 years of DJG in KC. If anyone is interested in this sort of orchestration please let DJG know.

Well, that should keep you busy for a bit and keep your inbox's heart beating. Thanks so much for your continued support and interest. See you at the end of the year or sooner. -djg

DJG Design / June to May to April � 2009

2009-07-01T10:13:38Z

DJG Design / June to May to April – 2009

Well, it is officially half-time for the year. The second quarter of 2009 wasn’t nearly as plump as the first, but there wasn’t a beat un-bopped nor brow left unfurled…

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JUNE

“Don’t Quit Your Day Job”

DJG was first discovered by the Kansas City, MO press in 2002 by Gina Kauffman. She was then working for The Pitch and tracked down the “DJG Design” stamp tucked in the corners of posters around town for a feature article. Gina recently contacted DJG for a second interview, this time with her current position at KCUR, Kansas City’s station for NPR programming. Daily, Gina shares on-the-air time with The Walt Bodine Show, but also has a new series called “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” and DJG is honored to be a part of it. It should air sometime in July. More information on airing time and where it can be found on the internet will appear in the coming week or more on DjgDesign.com. (Special thanks to Gina!)

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Publishing Projects

Some lovely, hand-crafted publications are crawling out of Columbia, MO these days. Ben Chlapek is continually cranking out the goodness over at NeverSleeping.com. He always has a book in the works and one such book is being built out of a combination of Ben and DJG’s stuff. More information is to come on that one as the summer moves on and work keeps piling up to line the pages. Ben is also set to make some big prints of DJG work, which after 8 years will finally give a good enough reason to sell things at DjgDesign.com and possibly elsewhere. These will surely hit by the end of the year. (Special thanks to Ben!)

A second publication out of Columbia, MO, is coming from the handmade aesthetics of Morgan Inez. Her July issue features screen printed cover art by Ben and new DJG work (one is featured above, titled "DJG Goes to NYC - Part 1"). It will be available in the coming weeks in Columbia area shops and online at Stranger Danger Distro. (Special thanks to Morgan!)

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We Love Typography

A couple of DJG items have appeared on the online typographic archive known as We Love Typography. DJG isn’t sure on the exact workings of this site, as DJG is still new to the internet after twelve years, but it’s a pretty cool place! And heck, typography is loved here too! (Special thanks to Able Parris!)

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Vote for DJG’s Friends…

DJG has some marvelous music making friends nominated for Kansas City’s Pitch Music Awards! The public can vote online right here! You can vote for whom you want, but if you need some help, DJG recommends David Seume, The ACBs, Max Justus, Boo & Boo Too, Rooftop Vigilantes, The Republic Tigers, Olympic Size and others! Enjoy and exercise your right to vote for great music!

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“Get Tuit, Just Due It: DJG at the Library”

Starting in July 2009, DJG will have three consecutive small scale solo exhibitions in the Johnson County Kansas library system. The work selected will cover the past 8 years of DJG, as well as a few new items. The exhibitions are sponsored by the library and their Art in the Stacks program. The first show titled “Get Tuit, Just Due It: DJG at the Library” will be during the month of July at Oak Park Library on 9500 Bluejacket in Overland Park, KS. Hours of operation are Mon – Fri: 10am to 9pm, Sat: 9am to 5pm and Sun: 1pm to 5pm. The exhibitions will be open to the public for free. For more information or questions go to the Jo Co Library’s official web site or contact djg@djgdesign.com. Information and locations on DJG library exhibitions in August and September will soon be posted at DjgDesign.com. (Special thanks to Sherry Bates!)

ps: visit the exhibition poster super big!

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David Seume Music Video Art

The epic DJG music video art for David Seume has been passed from Kansas City, MO to Portland, OR. Trusty sidekick of the northwest, Philip James Cheaney, is busy tinkering with the massive task of making the video come to life as well as deciphering a book’s worth of production notes! This has been the longest incubation for a DJG project yet (months as opposed to hours) and a lot was learned in the process to progress. We’re all really excited about this opportunity to make something together and the results should debut by summer’s end! For now, the public can see the final DJG art online here and here. The art is best viewed from right to left. It also had to be cut down in to two scrolls. We’re sure it will make more sense when the final product is complete and PLAY is hit multiple times…at least we hope you’ll be inspired to visit it more than once! (Special thanks to Philip and Seume!)

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MAY

Goodie Publications / Salon Foxy

Goodie Publications in Brooklyn, NY has DJG as a Featured Guest on their Salon Foxy! For many years now DJG has corresponded with Goodie co-founder Romy Ashby as she has written some lovely words regarding DJG work in Step Inside Design Magazine. Be sure to check out the happenings on the rest of the Goodie site, as well as their printed publications. Goodie Publications turns ten years old in 2009 and “remains a small, handmade publication dedicated to preserving an endangered history through the stories of its subjects.” (Special thanks to Romy and Foxy!)

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Mazzy Kitty / 2004 – 2009

Mazzy, DJG’s first pet outside of 18 and-a-half years of many farm pets, passed away suddenly in May. She had recently celebrated a 5^th birthday and leaves behind three sisters named Shadow, Porchie and Gangy. The DJG household is doing OK and we often celebrate and smile about the wonderful life that we were fortunate to share with the wonderful Mazzy. Here is a DJG writing… (Special thanks to Mazzy and to everyone who shared time with her in life and kind words with her in passing.)

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Making Movies

Oh, technology and oh, the internet. We’re all filmmakers these days. Not only is the first DJG music video finding the last half of production, but the digital camera battery has been filling up on activity in DJG’s Clubhouse. Especially so in-between the sun rays on a Sunday afternoon in May, DJG made some short videos documenting a typical day. For those with even more eye patience to waste, all types of typical are showing up on the official DJG YouTube page. (Special thanks to technology and the need to hang the wash on its wires)

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APRIL

The Write Stuff

DJG has always been writing something down or connecting the dots on daily walks inside and out. Though, not since the janitorial and grounds keeping days of paper towel spews and notebook pen leaks has DJG transcribed so many things. Many of these things are finding a home on the official DJG site and many will be finding their way into other artistic avenues. Call it blogging, call it nonsense, call it what you will. Or, just find the will to make your own marks on the day. It is yours for the taking and making.

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Walking With My Head Down

DJG is continually adding to the pile of found art at DjgDesign.com and on Flickr.com. It’s inspiring to share things found in everyday life though the simple act of watching where you are going. Enjoy! (Photography by: DJG / "Mouse on Sidewalk" / May 2009)

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"Creative Grab Bag"

In the Spring of 2008 DJG made some work that will find a home in the forthcoming book “Creative Grab Bag”. Originally titled, “The Grab Bag Book”, curator and designer Ethan Bodnar made a list of many different things that he hand-picked for invited makers of things to make. Get it? The book is due out in August of this year by HOW Books and features many makers of things. As of recently, the book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com! More to come on this exciting and inspiring publication! (Special thanks to Ethan!)

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Thanks again for making it to the end. And the end of 2009 is already in the binocular barrels! Yikes, time to get busy! -djg / www.djgdesign.com

DJG Design / 2009 Letter One

2009-04-02T10:07:30Z

Greetings…

Welcome to the first 2009 update for all things in the DJG world. Wow, this is the 8th official year of DJG Design! And here we go backwards to the start of the year! Nostalgia can be fun. Thanks for tuning in! See you in another three months or so…and/or at the bottom of the page. -djg

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MARCH '09

"Danny's Bossome Man Cave"

I Love You, Man” is a fantastic new bromantic comedy starring film funny guys Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. To help steer the movie marketing they’ve devised a competition for guys across the country to show off/submit their Man Caves via video. Allied Advertising in Kansas City, MO held an identical competition and chose DJG as their local winner! DJG is honored and still in the running for the film’s national Man Cave winner, to be judged by Rudd and Segel and announced soon. Welcome to "Danny’s Bossome Man Cave”! DJG can also be found on Vimeo! (special thanks to MMG, Barfey, Shadow and all those behind this great Man Cave competition).

DJG’s Stegosnowus

Eight days into Spring and Kansas City, MO (and DJG) finally got a winter storm with some snow and time that was workable. However, Ol’ Mother Nature’s clock sure was getting back to Spring in a hurry right as DJG’s Stegosnowus started mowing the lawn within minutes of arriving on the block. Some nice neighbor kids even came over to volunteer help and clever ideas to the likeable dinosaur. They helped on one of the legs and made eggs! (thanks cool neighbor kids!)

Two DJG Logos in Two Music Videos

A DJG logo designed for Gold Robot Records of Berkeley, CA is on a shirt worn in a music video by Meanest Man Contest. Awesome! Though, it looks like the shirt is sold-out for right now. But, please contact Gold Robot Records if you’re i nterested and maybe a second pressing can get going soon! (special thanks to Hunter Mack and Meanest Man Contest!)

Second DJG logo shows up on a shirt in this live video recording of a song at a recent David Seume concert at The Brick in Kansas City, MO. The logo is for The Tambourine Cl ub and shirts can be purchased at their concerts (special thanks to David Seume and Bryan Lamanno!)

Typographicposters.com

The lovers of typographic posters over at Typographicposters.com have been so kind to make a gallery for the type-heavy flavored posters of DJG. Awesome! It’s an honor to be a part of this, and to be “Featured” on the front page! (Special thanks to Andre!)

“Choice Cut” at Veaux.com

For a little while DJG was a “Choice Cut” at Veaux, an online art resource. Time to go to market!

“Finding Design Innocence in the Modern World”

Back in August of last year, Designartculture.com paid a lovely and touching tribute to DJG work in an article titled “Finding Design Innocence in the Modern World.” Check it out!

Ink Magazine Visits DJG’s Clubhouse

The fine folks from Ink Magazine spent part of their evening at DJG’s Clubhouse a couple weeks ago. Here is what they documented for their “Office Space”! (special thanks to Sarah for the writing and Jenn for the photography!)

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FEBRUARY '09

David Seume Video in the Works

Work is underway on DJG’s first venture into the music video world. It doesn’t come without some help though as Philip James Cheaney of Portland, OR is co-authoring this adventure. DJG & PJC are building a world to Kansas City, MO musician David Seume’s beautiful music! Well, at least one song for now! Check out some of the video art process here. A lot more is to come with this one. Word on the street is that we're all excited about it! Seume talks a little bit about this collaborative effort on his blog. .. Also, please check out Seume's music! And if you're not familiar with Philip's work, please beautify your monitors with this!

365 Days of Creativity

365 Days of Creativity is a great reservoir of “visual inspiration inspiring ideas” on the world wide web and the site posted a nice article on DJG Design! Thanks 365 Days of Creativity!

DJG Got a Graphic Hug

Everyone needs a hug. Graphic Hug is another fine stop on the visual super highway…and they gave DJG a hug! (special thanks to Able Parris!)

Present Magazine Courts DJG a Third Time

Kansas City’s Present Magazine, an online arts and culture journal, has kindly donated gallery space to another round of DJG posters. This is the third installment of DJG work featured in the “Art of the Poster” series, and it is always an honor to be included (First Time - 2007 / Second Time - 2008). And I understand that a few more DJG posters will be trickling their way into the gallery soon! (special thanks to Pete!)

Oh! Please check out my friend Ben in the “Art of the Poster” series too!

Now With Bacon!

I think this officially pushes into Web 3.0 area, but with a full 10.0 across the boards! DJG has been baconed! Everyday I say this while surfing, but here we go with another installment of, “DARN CLEVER DESIGNERS!” And gee-whiz, this bacon explosion must be sizzling the rounds cross-country as in one week alone I was bacon’d three times! And I love me some bacon! (special thanks to people who love to give DJG bacon!)

Grafik Tasarim

A great design magazine from Turkey called Grafik Tasarim showcased a DJG interview/profile in its November 2008 issue. DJG got a copy in February and was pleased to find many examples of work and excited to be included in the same issue as design great Paula Scher! Availability and distribution of the magazine in the States seems limited right now, but I believe it can be ordered from their website. (special thanks to Ercan ÜÇER and Ömer Durmaz)

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JANUARY '09

DJG + PJC = Video Fun!

For the past couple of years DJG and Philip James Cheaney of Portland, OR have flirted back and forth ideas of collaborating on a stop-animation movie. To wet creative whistles they decided in January to cut their partnered video teeth on two short films. The imagery was created by DJG in about an hour early one Saturday morning in January. The story and the music has pretty much been solidified and currently Philip is teaching “Kitty Come Home” and “Indian Butterfly Princess” (both above) how to move their muscles…more to come on this exciting collaboration that you'll be able to see come to life! (thanks Philip!)

1,000 & 1,000

Rockport Publishers and Stoltze Design's "1,000 Music Graphics" is out now and available for your interest. They were so kind to include several DJG works in their finely-tuned pages! (special thanks to everyone who helped put this great design resource together!)

Mao Mao Publications of Barcelona, Spain teamed up with Pageone to release a wonderful book of CD packaging called “1,000 Supreme CDs”. DJG is fortunate to have many items on display and this book looks supreme! The book is finished, but availability in the States seems limited, at least to knowledge at the moment. Here's an online review with a video and images to tide you over! (special thanks to everyone at Mao Mao and Pageone!)

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Well, thanks for joining with me on this read/ride. It’s been a busy and great three months so far in 2009! As always, thank you for your support and interest. See you in a bit... -djg / www.djgdesign.com

DJG Design / 2008 Backwards

2009-01-07T18:07:39Z

DJG Design / 2008 Backwards

As the seventh official year of all things DJG has buckled down and number eight is geared for the green light to the buffet, it’s now time to see just how rotund the year 2008 really was. It’s easy to trick-think that not much is getting accomplished until you start looking backwards…

DECEMBER '08

Present Magazine Likes Lists

I can’t help from making lists every year. Though I certainly try, it’s hard to find the resources in which to keep up with all the culture in a year’s time to make a thoroughly calculated year-end “Best of” list…and to check it twice. However, the past few years I have been keeping track of the little things in life that have been revealed to me. Some might be stupid to some, some petty or picky. But, it’s my list, not yours! Presentmagazine.com, a web site watching the cultural and community happenings in the Kansas City area, has published 2008’s list, as well as a list of Kansas City related people online that I’m interested in…and to top it off, an old letter that I sent to Santa!

STEP 100 Reader’s Choice

I was fortunate to receive 2 items out of 271 to be included for the STEP Inside Design - STEP 100 “Reader’s Choice” Poll. This is an online gallery that provides an opportunity for the public to vote on their favorites to be included in the annual STEP 100 magazine, published in the Spring of 2009. My work includes a four layer spray painted tour poster for an Ohio band called State Bird and the other is a double-sided ink jet print poster on blue print paper for a group exhibition for Gold Robot Re cords at Blank Space Gallery in Oakland, CA. The work on the gallery isn’t labeled per designer/client, it is pretty anonymous, but for reference while going through the pages, mine look like this and this.

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6^th Annual DJG December Brick Exhibition

The 6ixth annual DJG December solo exhibition at The Brick was on display from December 6^th until January 2nd. The show was titled, “6ixth on the 6ixth: Me Mhakes (sic)”. Opening night was on December 6ixth and it was a rare opportunity to buy prints and rummage through old posters. I also had free posters for the show. Nothing that I place on the Brick wall is ever for sale, as it is more of an opportunity for me to clean out the basement and share the original art produced during the year (over 30 things)…and I have trouble parting with my original children. Opening night also showcased an early show for two bands that are regularly on my design menu, Konnor Ervin (of The ACBs) and The Tambourine Club. The Brick is located at 1727 McGee Street in Kansas City, MO and is a popular music, food and art venue. December 2009 is already booked for another solo DJG show! Thanks again to Sheri and The Brick for your continued support over the years!

NOVEMBER '08

Present Magazine Photograph Published

On opening weekend of the 2007 Missouri deer hunting season, I snapped a unique photograph through the back windshield of my Dad’s pick-up as we hauled my big buck out of the woods and through the cow pasture. Present Magazine’s “Take Your Best Shot” published this photograph titled “The Washington Monument”, which was the second DJG photograph this year to be showcased on their site. Coincidentally, the image was published shortly after the 2008 Missouri deer hunting season.

Grafik Tasarim Feature Article

In 2006 a great graphic design magazine out of Turkey called Grafik Tasarim published their first issue that included many examples of DJG work in an article. Two years later they interviewed me for a feature article and a showcase of my work. I’ve yet to see it, but have one coming to my doorstep soon! I’m not sure on the availability of the magazine in The United Sates, but more information can be found on their web site and I have the interviews (both short and long) on my web site.

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2008 Print Magazine Design Annual

For the sixth year in a row Print Magazine has saved some finely-printed page space for some DJG work in their sparkling Regional Design Annual. A mini poster (above) I produced for a Republic Tigers show at The Brick in Kansas City, MO made the cut. I also gave a lengthy interview with the magazine (found here) on my take with“The State of the Design Union” and happened to get a humorous quote published in the write-up for the Missouri design section. Print is available at all major news stands and through their website.

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The Record Machine’s 5^th Birthday

One-third of a massive poster project commemorating the 5th birthday of a Kansas City, MO record label called The Record Machine was wrapped up in October. I have worked with the label since creating their original identity in 2003. For the posters, over a hundred original DJG illustrations were made based on imagery and ideas pulled and culled from each recording artist that The Record Machine has released. The label’s website posted a nice little article on the first phase of the project, which features five posters. My good friend and fellow maker of things Ben at N eversleeping.com is also working on a set of five posters of his own illustrations. A third set of five posters will be made by slapping DJG’s and Ben’s images together via screen print overlays. Eventually, all three sets of five will be for sale and there is an exhibition currently being scheduled for early 2009 in Kansas City, MO.

OCTOBER '08

Maomao Promotion at Frankfurt Book Fair

Since getting published in a recent book by Maomao Publications, an outstanding publisher in Barcelona, Spain, my work has been requested for another design book to come out in 2009. In preparation for this book, Maomao took to the road, showcasing a preview of it at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany and receiving great interest and excitement. Many examples of my work were on display for this special promotion. The new book is titled “New Styles in Graphic Design”, and according to Paz at Maomao, “It will feature new styles in Graphic Design…the return of craft, the awesome and delightful invas ion of illustr ation and the eternal coming back of vintage.” Sounds exciting to be a part of! I’ll keep you posted.

The Record Machine Interview

In honor of The Record Machine’s 5^th birthday, the Kansas City, MO record label started a new series of interviews involving the people that they’ve worked with over the years. I've been with them since their first meeting and am always tinkering with their logo (original is above) and a few CDs and posters. I was honored to help launch this interview series. You can visit the interview online.

STEP Inside Design Writing

Over the years STEP Inside Design Magazine has treated me very well in the pages of their STEP 100 Design Annual and as well, they have become acquainted with me dumping a large sum of work on their lap. However, the past couple of years have seen a vast decrease in my work to them due to the vast increase in design competition submission fees. STEP wrote me a letter wondering why they hadn’t seen my work yet and though I assured them my work was in the mail, I also sent them a letter wondering why they keep raising their prices. The editor enjoyed the letter and I’m still waiting on the lengthy response that he promised to me. Hopefully, it'll just be included in the magazine!?

SEPTEMBER '08

Review Magazine Profile

Review is a lovely little arts magazine published monthly in Kansas City, MO. Last year I created an original typographic piece for an issue dedicated to the medium. This year they came calling again. September’s issue covered the wide range of poster design in and around the city’s scene. The fine people at Review were kind enough to recognize posters produced by me, allowing room for a write-up and three poster examples. Review Magazine can be picked up for free at Kansas City area locations. You can also browse what they have to offer on their web site as there is a profile of the various poster makers that the KCMO area has to offer. The interview I did with them can be read on my web site. I want to thank Sonya for her continued support and hard work!

AUGUST '08

Chomp Womp “08-08-08” Exhibition

My brother is involved in Lawrence, KS based music and art collective Chomp Womp. On the magical date of 08-08-08 Chomp Womp engineered a one-night-only musical art extravaganza appropriately titled “08-08-08” at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend, but was able to supply a limited number of very special hand-cut masks (above) and posters for the event.

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Schmap.com Photograph Published

On a March weekend of 2008 some friends and I hopped, skipped and jumped on up to Omaha, NE to visit two of my favorite places, Henry Doorly Zoo and Spaghetti Works. In April, Schmap.com found a picture I snapped before eating my pile of Spaghetti Works and invited me to share it with the world on their web site, which is an online interactive city guide for places of interest. Enjoy! I wish I could eat that picture!

Present Magazine Photograph Published

Earlier in the year my wife and I were jumping on hay bales with my Mom and Dad’s dog Hank. I snapped a very intriguing and multi-dimensional photograph that Present Magazine published to their online gallery called “Take Your Best Shot”. The photograph is called “Haybaling Hank” and can be seen online. And Hank can currently be seen laying around my parent’s yard!

JULY '08

Print Magazine and “The State of the Design Union”

In conjunction with their Regional Design Annual, Print Magazine hooked up with me for an interview on my thoughts on “The State of the Design Union”. I gladly provided them with a lengthy take of spur-of-the-moment thoughts.

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DJG + Gigposters.com

There is a heavily-trafficked site for band posters and designers on the internet called Gigposters.com. I have been eye-balling this site frequently since 2001, marveling at the wonderful work and keeping track poster-by-poster of my favorite artists, and every year since had made it a goal to start a file cabinet of my work on it. Seven years later I’ve slowed down my band poster productions and finally tackled this massive compiling of my posters (totaling in the upper three hundreds!) cementing a complete digital home for every band poster I’ve produced since the late ‘90s and in order (for the better part) from the present in Kansas City, MO to those early days in Springfield, MO and beyond. Well, minus a handful from the early days that have either been misplaced, destroyed or stolen. Check them out if you get some time! Also, here is an awesome and quite humorous discussion on one of my posters with the Gigposters community, including one of my influences, Art Chantry!

JUNE '08

DJG Design New Web Site Launch

Version 3.0 of the internet home of all things DJG officially saw the lights of the world’s monitors in June. It is the most comprehensive site yet for me and I look forward to keep on filling it full with work, writings, photographs, finds and everything else. Things are still being tidied up a bit and some haven’t yet been fully extended, but enjoy and keep coming back if you get some spare time. For now, peek around the corner and edges for the usual paper trail as well as new hallways, stairwells and crawl spaces to tickle yourselves with. Saddle up, pack up the kids and take some time off. Perhaps bring a scoop shovel or two. It’s been a long road to get this new site up and bushels of thank you need to go out to K & M Creative for the hard work and p atience to bring this web site t o life and for all of the production work behind the scenes!

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I Site Design Uses My Face

My friends in Portland, OR at I Site Design gave me a little tribute on their annual newsletter. They manipulated my mug to house a special link on how to do said manipulation to mugs. I found this to be a real hoot and I highly endorse the manipulation of my mug, or try your own!

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Chad Johnston Book Interview

Writer Chad T. Johnston spent his 2008 free-time working on a fantastic new book. I’ve been fortunate to have eaten a healthy portion of it so far and I must say that it’s an awesome buffet of essays on the inspiration of creativity and pop-culture through a spiritual lense on life…something to that effect. I supplied Chad with a lengthy writing in response to the following question for a chapter on creativity where I feel honored to be placed alongside Henry Darger: “The big thing I want to know from you is this: You have worked as a janitor and a data-entry clerk (or something to that effect). Neither of those is highly prestigious. At the same time, you are creating art…” The first draft of the book is currently under wraps and still untitled, but will be pushed to publish in 2009-10. Chad has also requested my hand in illustrating for the book and ideas are under way. I’ll keep you posted as my work seeps into another medium.

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“1,000 Music Graphics”

The big-time book makers at Rockport Publishers have donated a lot of DJG space to their new book titled “1,000 Music Graphics.” I honestly forgot about this book as there was another design book with a similar title coming out in 2008 with a similar title and theme. I guess that’s not a bad thing though, right?! “1,000 Music Graphics: A compilation of packaging, posters and other solutions” is authored and curated by Clifford Stoltze and again, published by Rockport Publishers. I’ve yet to actually see the book, but according to Stoltze, ““This book offers designers a vast collection of inspiring and innovative graphic works form the world of music. The main emphasis is on music graphics including album/CD covers and inside sprea ds, packaging, posters, and other sales materials from the past decade.” I’m positive it can be found at most mega book vendors in the Art/Design section and especially over at Amazon.com.

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“The Grab Bag Book”

Graphic designer enthusiast Ethan Bodnar is on the rise with his “The Grab Bag Book”, aka: "Creative Grab Bag", set to publish by How Books in the Spring of 2009. I am honored to contribute two new original works of art specially made for this wonderful book. My name was plucked from a hat to make an original painting as well as a work of art that could be anything to my liking. My painting, “Spring Rain Wind Blows Only Truths To Expose All Those Shut-In Soups & Sandwiches Pressed Against My Clothes”, doubles as the poem I wrote while walking to work earlier in the year. The other work that I made titled "Capture The Drag" is possibly my most epic (what does that mean?) and most involved piece of work in a while…and one of my favorite pieces of 2008. Coincidentally, it too was inspired by my many walks to and from the day job as I tend to collect many found objects (aka: trash) that strike my fancy.

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“1,000 Supreme CDs”

The fantastic Maomao Publications in Barcelona, Spain gathered several examples of my work for their music packaging book called “1,000 Supreme CDs”. According to the Maomao Publications website, “CD graphics nowadays are highly-regarded because the medium is used as a platform for experimentation and free expression. Many designers claim that their introduction to graphic design came through music, and that they developed their visual sense through album covers. Both design professionals and music lovers will find inspiration in “1000 Supreme CD Designs.” It offers a selection of highly-collectable work which is displayed, used in everyday life, and may one day reach cult status.” I can&rs quo;t wait to look at this! I will be receiving my copy in the mail any day now! I’ll keep you posted on availability in the coming year as I don’t think there is a wide-release for it yet.

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“Cacophony” Group Exhibition and Posters

A record label in California that I’ve worked with for the past couple of years had Volume 2 of an art and music exhibition titled “Cacophony” take place during the month of June at Blank Space Gallery in Oakland, CA. Curated by label founder, Hunter Mack, the show featured a wide-range of national artists who have made things for music releases put out by Gold Robot Records. I made the label’s logo design in 2007. As well as supplying prints of past work and original artwork of 5 large Sheep made out of yard clippings on paper titled “Sheep, Sheep, Sheep, Sheets”, I also made a special run of awkwardly- sized 13.5″ x 22″ double-sided posters ink jet printed on blue print paper for this exhibition. Boy that was an epic sentence! It was an epic poster project as well and I was excited to be included in such a special way. The posters were on sale at the gallery through June and are currently for sale on the web site for Gold Robot Records. It is rare for me to sell work, so this was/is an exclusive opportunity. Pictures of the exhibition (courtesy of Hunter Mack) can be viewed online. My “Sheep, Sheep, Sheep, Sheets” will eventually be for sale on my web site, along with many other sheep that are currently out to pasture. Thanks Hunter for your continued support!

MAY '08

Daily Mine Field “Focus Artist”

To kick-off the new version of his Dailyminefield.com, Portland OR artist-designer Patrick Craig invited me to be his “Focus Artist”. A few years ago he gave me the same opportunity and I gladly accepted. Patrick showcased some of my recent work and asked me the question, “What inspires your art?” The feature is no longer available online, but here is my long-winded and truthful answer!

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DJG + Flickr.com

The past couple of years I’ve been working and wondering on a way to properly manage my bounty of personal photography that I’ve kept steady with for the past twelve years as well as a new way to share my art and design work and collections with new audiences. I went back ‘n’ forth with many photo sites before finally choosing the fine Flickr.com to serve as a digital filing system for my life in pictures and so forth. It’s not only a wonderful new way to connect with people, but Flickr.com has no problem housing my 14,000 (and counting) images! I hope I don’t crash their server!

APRIL '08

Ireport.com and CNN.com “Man Cave”

If I’m remembering correcting, a friend of mine passed me an internet link to an article requesting submissions on so-called “Man Caves”. Since my design studio (which I call “DJG’s Clubhouse) is my home inside of my home and it’s in a dark and damp cave-like basement, I felt that it definitely fit the bill as a “Man Cave”. Ireport.com did too for “It’s Not A Manctuary, It’s a Man Cave” article and then passed me along to CNN.com for “The Essential Ingredients of a Man Cave" (the article is no longer available online). Both sites published many-manly pictures from around the country and I was honored to have my own cave highlighted and to be quoted from the many questions I answered. More of my current "Clubhouse" can be seen here.

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Omaha Zoo Photographs

In March I visited my favorite zoo for the third time, Omaha’s wonderful Henry Doorly Zoo and snapped many photographs of animals just for the joy of it. A month later I entered a couple of my photos to the “2008 Photo Challenge at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo” and my work was included in a group exhibition at the zoo! The work (above) was then judged by zoo officials and workers. My work wasn’t picked for the final round, but it was an honor to take part in a great and unique opportunity.

Art History at University of the Arts

Usually I get emails from students curious about little things, workings of my process, or wondering about the possibility of working an internship or study program with me (sadly, I don’t even offer myself employment with the things I make!). Several times I’ve kindly been asked to participate in interviews for design classroom assignments. When Millie Landis of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA emailed me, she wanted to do a lecture on me and my process for the art history class she was taking. I gladly over-stocked her with an interview and samples of my work! She better have gotten an ABCDJG+!

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HOW Magazine

Out of the blue I got the itch to email the editor at HOW Magazine (which is a solid graphic design magazine, for those who don’t keep up with that kind of junk). Why not email because email is easy? I was shocked to know that HOW had been keeping up with me over the years and as my conversation with Carmen unfolded, she asked, “…my interest is piqued a bit about the year you took off–why you did that, how you spent it, how it affected you, what you learned, etc.” I answered back a few days later with a massively ambitious letter on everything under the design sun. I’m quite certain I either overloaded their email account and/or overwhelmed them completely as I still am waiting to hear back! But, my writing is available for your interest online, if your interest (and time or patience) is piqued.

MARCH '08

Now Public Photograph Published

NowPublic.com, an internet news and information site, contacted me to submit an urban photograph (above) I took while in Chicago eight years go to be published on their site. The image (above) was used for an article about cities titled “Growing Cities in America.”

Present Magazine “Art of the Poster: Part 2”

In 2007 online Kansas City arts and culture site Present Magazine came knocking on my inbox for me to participate in a new art series called “Art of the Poster.” They wanted to use me as their poster boy for this series and I accepted. They interviewed me and put up a bunch of posters on their permanent gallery! It went so well that I was asked to send them more things in the future, and so the 2008 future soon became the Present and I gave them more posters. I was excited to have a second volume of my work and some very kindly written reviews about them (Thank you Pete!). Look for a Part 3 of this series in early 2009!

Kansas City Star “One Cool Cat”

Living in Missouri adds an extra many cushions of daily climate change and sometimes we’re blanketed with the wonderful purity of a snow fall. In January 2007 I made a giant bunny rabbit for the heck of it and was surprised at how much attention it received (and how bad my body ached)! I’d peek out the windows at night to see more traffic in the community and families huddled around in the yard with camera bulbs flashing against a big bunny in the night sky. However, soon the sun came back out and my bunny had to hop along. The next best available snow didn’t fall until 13 months later, so of course I couldn’t wait for an opportunity to play and make something when we finally received an even better blanket of snow in late February of 2008. Two ho urs and some sor e knees later there was an eight foot tall cat sitting upright and wearing sunglasses in my front lawn! And the “Cool Cat” made it in the Kansas City Star newspaper (which, I now can't seem to locate online) and on the bulletin board at my Grandma's nursing home! What creature will magically appear to the community next!?

FEBRUARY '08

Darklight Gallery Group Exhibition

In conjunction with a 2007 lecture I gave at Missouri State University I also had a one-night solo exhibition of 5 years worth of work. The exhibition was held at the Darklight Art Gallery in Springfield, MO. About ten months later I was invited back to show some new work in a special group exhibition for Valentine’s Day that was up for the entire month of February called “Mushy Gushy / Bitter & Broken Hearted”. I created two giant typographic pieces based on poetry I wrote in my head while walking to work one morning. The result was called “DJG’s Truck Stop Love Stalls No. 1 & 2”. Doing these pieces sparked more ideas for large-scale type projects in the futu re. I just need more room to make things!

JANUARY '08

Kansas City “A4 Awards”

In 2007 I was wowed and honored to receive top honors at the Kansas City, MO chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (aka: AIGA KC) with three posters in the “A3 Awards”. A year later I was pleased to be included in the “A4 Awards” show and book with a poster I made in collaboration with my good friend Douglas J. Wilson who does wonderful letter pressing at OnPaperWings.com. The poster (above) is for a lecture I gave and is inkjet printed on blue print paper and then letter pressed over top of. Doug and I have thus co-made another poster this year and have plans to produce more offspring in the future. The few remai ning prints of our award-winni ng poster will someday be for sale on our websites.

…well, if you’ve made it this far I trust that you’ve either cheated your way down the scroll and/or really did have some major units of time or the care to waste! Regardless, thank you for allowing me to share my life and work with you in this tid-bit of year-end self-promotion. I’m ready for another year...many of them!

Thanks for your support. Best wishes in '09!

-djg

Danny J. Gibson
c/o: DJG Design, LLC
P.O. Box 5897
Kansas City, MO USA 64111

phone: 816-694-3177
email: djgdesign@gmail.com
web: www.djgdesign.com
other: www.flickr.com/photos/djgdesign/sets/